Parents of College Student Killed by Long Beach Police Sue City

The parents of a college student shot and killed by a Long Beach police officer on May 27 sued the city Wednesday.

The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by Amr Morad and Amal Alkabra, the father and mother, respectively, of Feras Morad, who are seeking unspecified damages.

A representative for the Long Beach City Attorney’s Office did not immediately reply to a request for comment on the lawsuit, which alleges wrongful death, negligent training and supervision, negligent infliction of emotional distress and civil rights violations.

PREVIOUSLY:

• Former Honor Student Killed by Officer Acted Bizarrely, Police said
• Rally to Honor Unarmed Student Killed by Police
• $28 Million Claim Filed Against Long Beach

However, police previously said Morad appeared to be on drugs that night.

Family members said earlier that Morad had been studying with friends when they took hallucinogenic mushrooms to which he had a bad reaction, and after a fight ensued, he jumped through a second-story window.

At a news conference this morning at the Pasadena office of the family’s attorneys, his father said: “It was too early for him to go,” his voice breaking.

“I do not understand for the life of me how could this happen?” he said. “So easy. A harmless boy wounded, bleeding, no shirt, no shoes ... 7 o’clock at that time it was bright daylight and he gets killed.”

Long Beach police Officer Matthew Hernandez -- who is named as a defendant, along with LBPD Chief Robert Luna -- confronted Morad near Cal State Long Beach, where the 20-year-old Woodland Hills native was due to begin classes in the fall, according to attorneys for the plaintiffs.

Morad was confused, bleeding from a serious cut on his arm and suffering possible head trauma after falling through a window of a second-floor apartment on East 15th Street, according to the suit, which says he was unarmed and in need of medical attention.

Hernandez, a 12-year-veteran of the force, shouted commands at Morad, who was “clearly disoriented and injured,” according to the complaint.

“Despite Morad’s clear need of medical attention, Hernandez made the fatal and rash decision to use deadly force,” the suit states.

Hernandez shot Morad five times at “point-blank range, including twice in the chest,” then turned the young man over onto his stomach and handcuffed him, according to the lawsuit.

“My son needed care,” Amr Morad said. “Instead, he got killed. My son Feras was a treasure, a natural leader, a friend. He was so intelligent. He was studying to be an attorney so he could help people. I only hope that there is a change so that the next young man gets the help he needs.”

Alkabra said a nightmare began for her the day her son was killed.

“My daughter and my neighbor woke me up, crying, to tell me my son was dead,” she said. “As a mother, I don’t want anyone to ever feel the way I’m feeling. I hope some change will come out of this and we can make the world better. That’s what Feras would’ve wanted.”

Morad attended El Camino Real Charter High School and later Moorpark College, choosing a longer commute in order to join Moorpark’s accomplished debate team, according to the plaintiffs’ attorneys.

A high school and junior college debate champion, he ranked nationally in both the Phi Rho Pi National Forensic Organization and the National Speech and Debate Championship Tournament, and competed in many other leagues, the attorneys said.

He was a ranking member of ROTC while at El Camino Real, according to the plaintiff’s lawyers.

According to an account of the shooting provided in July by the LBPD, paramedics had been sent to the area along with the officer, on reports of a disturbance after the window was shattered.

The officer saw three people in an alley and, as he began to exit his patrol vehicle, one of the three began to walk quickly in his direction, covered with blood from a large cut, according to the LBPD.

The officer told Morad he was there to help him, but the man walked toward the officer, ignoring a command to stop so he could be treated, according to police.

“The suspect advanced more rapidly toward the officer, who perceived the suspect was now a threat and (was) going to assault him,” according to the LBPD statement. “During the next few minutes, the officer utilized verbal commands, an electronic control device, an impact weapon and physical force to gain compliance but was unsuccessful.

“Ultimately, the suspect again advanced toward the officer, telling the officer he was going to attack him. At that time, an officer-involved shooting occurred.”

--City News Service, photo courtesy of LAUSD